1. Lessons for inhabitants living in damp tropical buildings
Health Impacts
The
of Damp Housing Conditions
Lessons for inhabitants living in damp tropical buildings
Presenter
Kofi Agyekum
ICIDA Conference 2017

2. A deadly but persistent building defect
Findings
Presentation Outline
Introduction
A deadly but persistent building defect
Methodology
Conclusions
Prevalence in Ghana
By: Kofi Agyekum

3. Aim
Introduction
To examine the impact of damp housing conditions on the health of occupants, and presents lessons from such studies to those living in tropical buildings (the case of Ghana) with similar conditions
Substandard housing contributes to indoor air quality problems and results in adverse health conditions like asthma, tuberculosis, and poor mental health
(Udofia et al., 2014; Kreiger and Higgins, 2002)
Housing characteristics, community and neighbourhood environments have the potential to affect human health
(Udofia et al., 2014; Egan et al., 2010)
Adequate housing is expected to provide shelter from climatic conditions, security, environmental nuisances, etc.
(Udofia et al., 2014; Lawrence, 2006)
One of the major building defects which affects the indoor air quality of buildings is the presence of excessive moisture which give rise to dampness
Indoor air quality is an important issue for occupational and public health
(Maxim, 2013)
ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017

4. Methodology Two-stage Methodology Journals Considered
Selection Criteria
Methodology
Thorax
Indoor Air
Microbiome
Ghana Medical Journal
African Health Sciences
Pediatrics; Acta Paediatrics
BMC Public Health Journal
Indoor and Built Environment
European Respiratory Journal
International Journal of Tuberculosis Lung Disorders
European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Journals
High ranking journals in indoor and environmental health issues
Papers
Relevant articles cited 50 or more times per google scholar citation
Identifying the relevant literature material
Reviewing the relevant literature
ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017

5. Possible Health Problem Study that Mentioned the Health Problem
Key Findings
Moisture-Related
Possible Health Problem
Study that Mentioned the Health Problem
Norbäck
et al. (2000)
Bornehag et al. (2001)
Kilpeläinen et al. (2001)
et al. (2002)
Maritta
Bhola and Subratty (2003)
et al. (2004)
Park
Emenius
et al. (2005)
Simoni
Pekkanen et al. (2007)
Karvonen et al. (2009)
et al. (2010)
Fisk
Ayanbimpe et al. (2010)
et al. (2011)
Tischer
et al. (2013)
Han
EPA (2013)
Mudarri (2016)
Respiratory Symptoms
Asthma X
Bronchitis
Cough
Wheeze
Sneeze
Common colds
Airway infections
Bacteria respiratory inf.
Aller. Symp.
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic conjunctivitis
Irritated eyes
Derma.Symp.
Atopic dermatitis
Eczema
Fungal presence
Mental Symptoms
Headache
Mental fatigue
Nervousness
Forgetfulness
Tiredness
ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017

6. Prevalence of Health Issues in Ghana
Malaria, typhoid, skin infections, respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis and measles
(Udofia et al., 2014)
Could dampness have led to these problems?
Could dampness have led to these problems?
The results from their study provided further evidence of housing as a determinant of occupants’ health, and identified housing characteristics and living conditions as issues for public health action in Ghana
(Udofia et al., 2014)
Few studies have been conducted on some respiratory health issues but there are no clear evidences of their linkages to the affected living in damp and mouldy buildings
(Udofia et al., 2014; Asamoah et al., 2012)
Not much is
known
Accra
ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017

7. ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017
There are many health issues associated with living in damp housing conditions
Conclusion 02
Exposure to damp conditions could trigger a number of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, as well as skin diseases
asthma, wheeze, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, headache, eczema, bronchitis, cough at night
ICIDA 2017 | K. Agyekum | © GpSlides 2017

8. Though there may not be adequate scientific evidence to support the fact that dampness affects the health of occupants, there is also no indication that living in a damp building improves health. Hence, even if it is a great challenge to science to explain the associations, it is practically advised that occupants should avoid damp buildings ‘ ’
(Bornehag et al., 2001, pp. 83)

9. End of presentation
Thank you